Albert Bandura (2000; 2001) is perhaps the best known analyst of what might be called one’s sense of competency, capability or self-efficacy. His definition of human agency itself is characterized by four core features which form a concern structure pattern:

P – Intentionality: A proactive commitment to bring about a represented future state of events via specific familiar actions (with some improvisation as needed).

A – Forethought: Outcome expectations based on observed conditional relationships that help one set long term goals and anticipate problems, rewards and punishment/costs.